Lacing-hook.



J. H. HALL.

LACING HOOK. APPLlcATloN HL'ED JUNE 30.1916.

Patented June 11, 1918.

parra JAMES H. I-IALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAGING-I-IOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 11, 1918.

Application filed .Tune 30, 1916. Serial No. 106,804.

10 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMns I-I. HALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lacing-Hooks, of whichthe following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as lac-inghooks, and particularly hooks for use on shoes for engagement with theshoe laces. The use of the same, however', is not limited to shoes, asthe same may be used upon gloves or other' apparel, or articles uponwhich the same may be applicable. The invention has among its objectsthe production of a device of thc kind described that is simple,convenient, eilicient and satisfactory, and which may be inexpensivelymanufactured and applied. It has particularly among its objects theproduction of a fastener in which the hook is substantially guarded orprotected so that the same will not easily and accidentally engage withthe wearing apparel of the user, and particularly with skirts and thelike, when the fastener is employed on ladies shoes. It also has as afurther object the production of a fastener or hook of the kinddescribed that may be securely and firmly attached to the shoe in such amanner that it will not easily pull out. Many other objects andadvantages of the construction herein shown and described will beobvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein made.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of several devices applied to wearingapparel;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the devices;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the same;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, of a simplifiedconstruction. 0

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred forms of the devicesare shown, 1 and 2 represent two desired parts to be laced and securedtogether by means of a fastener in place.

5 5, so as to receive the lacing 3 when the device is in use. The headis preferably formed with a projecting part or hook 6, extending overthe same, the outer or free .end 7 of which may be slightly depressed,as most clearly shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of depressing the same isto bring the end slightly below the top of the head. j The side of thehead opposite the hook at each side thereof forms substantially a guard8, the top of which is preferably above the end 7 of the hook. In theconstruction shown in Figs. 1-4, I show a slight flange 9 extendinginwardly about the upper edge or rim 8 of the head, the hook 6 in flange9,how

ever, being so proportioned that the space l0 between the hook and rimwill permit the lace to be easily pushed into place and engage under thehook. lIhe flange 9 is not necessary or essential and may be omitted ifdesired, as shown in the section illustrated in Fig. 5, in which theedge of the guard 8 is preferably slightly rounded as at 9', the space10 in this case being somewhat larger than the space 10 shown in Fig. 3.

As shown, the head is provided with a tubular shank 11, which is ofsufficient length so that the outer end 12 of the same may be turnedover or flanged outwardly to engage the material 1, and secure the Asmost clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the base of the head forms ashoulder about the shank 11, and if desired, the same may be so arrangedthat the edge 15 will. tend to impinge in the material 1, as shown. Inapplying the fastener the flange 12 is also formed to impinge as at 16,after the Hange has been set, the flange being formed after the shankhas been passed through the material, so that when the fastener is inplace the edge of the material about the opening through which thefastener or shank passes will be firmly gripped and locked, as mostclearly shown in the two figures referred to. Where the fasteners areused on shoes a lining 17 may be, and is ordinarily used to cover theinner end of the shank and prevent chang.

Assuming the fasteners are applied as described, or in an equivalentmanner, the same being constructed as illustrated in Figs. 8 or 5, thelace is pushed into the space l0 or 10', as the case may be, and as itis drawn tight, it drops into the spaces or notches 5 (see Fig. l),where it is firmly and securely engaged. If the flange 9 is employedthis will, to some extent, tend to prevent the accidental disengagementof the lace in caselthe same becomes loosened. As mentioned, however,the flange 9 is not essential. It will be noted by referring to theseveral figures, that vthere is nothing upon which `the wearing apparelmay accidentally engage and become torn, as for eX- ample, vskirts andthe like, where the fastener' is used on ladies shoes. The fastener lnotonly prevents accident to the wearing apparel, but by preventingengagement with the same, may in many cases prevent serious accidents,such as falls or the like. The fastener is not confined in its use toladies shoes alone, that is, it may be used on mens shoes, on gloves,leggings, corsets, and, in fact, any place where a lace fastening may befound desirable.

Having .thus described my invention, it is obvious that lvariousimmaterial modifications may be `made in the same without departingfromthe spirit ofmy invention; hence l do not `wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact construction, arrangement and combinationof parts Yherein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

iVhat l claim as new and desire to vsecure by Letters Patent is 1. Alacing member of the kind described, comprising a tubular head, provided,with a shank at one end and with a shoulder about the shank at itsjuncture with the head, said head provided with a projecting hook at oneside extending` across the head to adjacent the other side thereof, andslightly depressed at its free end below the top edge of the head, saidhead inwardly iianged about said hook end and cut away at each side ofthe hook to adjacent the base, the outer edge at the shoulder on theunder side of the base of thehead formed to impinge into the materialcarrying the member, and the shank of .suflieient length to permit thesame to be flanged outwardly and inwardly and impinge at its free endsinto the material carrying the member.

2. A lacing member of the kind described, comprising a tubularhead,provided with a suitably formed shank at one end and with a hook atthe opposite end, said hook extending across the head to proximate theother side, said head cut away at each side of the hook adjacent itsjuncture with the base to a point near the bottom of thebase, said otherside of the head extended to constitute a cooperating guard about thefree end of the hook, and flanged inwardly about the end of the hook,with a space between .the edge ofthe flange and sides yand end ofthe'hook.

:In testimony whereof, have hereunto signed my name 4in the presence oftwo subscribing .witnesses JAMES H. HALL. Witnesses:

ROY W. HILL,

CHARLEs l. COBB.

(Copies et? this patent may be obtained forjfve cents each, joyaddressing the Commissioner vo? Iatente, Washington, JU). C.

